Southern California - Magicant's Magic Adventures - Report and Pics?

Great pics Joel. Thanks for sharing them.

Gee, they don't look like happy cows. Definitely french ... :D

I'll post a bunch more when I get them organized. Ralph, when I get the good ones posted, you're definitely welcome to have the full sized ones - just PM me and let me know which ones.

I have close to 1000 pics to sort through and I'll probably get a couple thousand more from other people on the tour. The friend I was with had a pretty good camera, so I'm sure I'll get some pretty good shots from him. I tried to take photos along the way, but there are times when you just get into riding mode and don't want to stop.

m.e. - I'll post one of the cows I rode next to - I came within 6 inches of the head of one of them (no, I didn't pet it). Sadly I didn't get any good close-ups since I was dodging them at the time! Animals created two of the more stressful experiences. Once in a dark tunnel, two HUGE goats were inside and we were worried they were going to charge. Then, sailing downhill at about 25 - 30 mph around corners, there was a cow right in the middle of the road. Fortunately, he stayed in the middle and I veered into the left lane to avoid him.

I also have a kml file of a couple of the ride days. I'll post them later.

Joel, Joel...Joel. Keep posting the pics, it's not like we're stuck in some uncomfortable chair, with gas, in the middle of a dozen people in your hot humid living room! We can come and go as we please...the pictures are amazing and I'm enjoying them. In fact, the picture of the Hobbit house is my wallpaper here at work and when my daughter saw it, she pleaded with me to make it the wallpaper on here laptop...she LOVES it.

Thanks!

Cows:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n256/magicant2000/Europe592.jpg


How could you not pet that? Huh? Right there within a couple of inches of your hand, mooing in French. Dude, you so did not have your priorities straight. :p

Awesome pictures Joel. Welcome back!

Excellent photos. Amazing trip!

WOW; what are you thinking?
No need to answer that, it's rhetorical, but it would take more than a crow bar to get me away from here.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/imspec/cycling/Europe456_edited-1.jpg

Spectacular trip Joel, really great.

Thanks Gene - it was wonderful there, but I think I'd need some more excitement than you'll find in those small towns. I could probably live there for 6 months but eventually I'd need a movie theater or something.

For the record, I climbed those damned hills with nothing but caffeine and sugar in my system...

They don't have Krispy Kremes, but I found these wonderful little sponge cakes with strawberry filling...

For the record, I climbed those damned hills with nothing but caffeine and sugar in my system...

They don't have Krispy Kremes, but I found these wonderful little sponge cakes with strawberry filling...

Well, silly, you know to prefuel before a difficult climb, so no pity from this girl. :rolleyes::p Oh, and what about the food? Did the tour guides provide snacks along the way or did you have to pack your own?

Well, silly, you know to prefuel before a difficult climb, so no pity from this girl. :rolleyes::p Oh, and what about the food? Did the tour guides provide snacks along the way or did you have to pack your own?Never really needed much -- the lunch stop was about halfway through the ride each day. That was plenty. I wasn't looking for pity - I was making a Vinokourov funny...

Never really needed much -- the lunch stop was about halfway through the ride each day. That was plenty. I wasn't looking for pity - I was making a Vinokourov funny...

Remember, I don't have cable...

Does this mean your bringing a couple dozen of these nutritional nuggets to the next BF ride so everyone can sample them?

Beware!!! 400+ pictures ahead, including some friends in Portugal, bulls, bicycles and lots of greenery.

http://www.pyreneestour.com/Europe/index.html

fantastic pictures. i'm going back next year.

nice white tube socks.

ps i'd hit it.

Did you do that with one of those organized bike tours with support? I didn't see you mention that anywhere.

cute lady friend! story?

Did you do that with one of those organized bike tours with support? I didn't see you mention that anywhere.Yes, I booked it with Experience Plus -- they provided great support. They booked the hotel rooms, provided 3 guides with the tour (there were 13 of us on the tour). One guide went out early each morning on a bike to mark the route with chalk, one drove the support van and one rode a bike to follow the riders. They were natives of the region and very nice. They also booked a few tours and the dinners in the towns we visited: including the balcony viewing area for the running of the bulls (with a Pamplona native who explained the whole thing), a visit to a cheese factory in the Roncal valley and a few other things.

cute lady friend! story?A really long one, dating back a couple of years! She's visiting next week :)

nice white tube socks.
I had to keep up the "tacky American tourist look" but couldn't bring myself to wear black socks and sandals or a fanny pack.


ps i'd hit it.Stay away from her.

Stay away from her.


i wanna meet her hot friends.

man... i just went through them all....amazing looking trip, im jealous!!!!! i think my favorite so far is the one of you getting ready for fisticuffs with the stuffed bull....the lady behind you's expression is awesome!!!


oh and....you look like quite the international player in the first bunch of shots as well.....dare i say....play-a

A really long one, dating back a couple of years! She's visiting next week :)


Sweet . . . you guys look happy and enjoy each other's company. Is she visiting from . . . Europe? Are you one of those that have one in every state/country/continent/etc.? ;)

Beware!!! 400+ pictures ahead, including some friends in Portugal, bulls, bicycles and lots of greenery.

Sagrada Familia was one of the biggest highlights of our euro vacation. Barcelona rocks... I would live there in a second.


http://vmac.smugmug.com/photos/36100797-M-1.jpg